It has been said that the oil industry is not for the faint of heart.   That has definitely been true this past year.  Fortunately some of the major service companies say we have turned the corner, and activity in the oil patch is picking up!  So I feel we can start this new season with optimism about our industry and look forward to an exciting year. 
 
I am honored to serve as president of East Texas Geological Society.  I have received so much knowledge, camaraderie and support from this wonderful society for many years; it is a pleasure to be able to contribute.  I believe I am the first woman to serve in this position, at least in recent memory, and hopefully I will not be the last. Being new to the ETGS board, I am overwhelmed to discover the amount of time, effort and service these board members give to our society and have done for so many years. 

This will be my final President’s letter to the Society.  I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to write about this month, so I reviewed all the letters I wrote to the Society for the last two years.  I guess I have kind of used this “Bully Pulpit” as an opinion page to address some of the philosophical ideas I hold, and I’ve had a ball doing that.  Most of the points I feel strongly about have already been covered, so no more philosophizing. Being President of the East Texas Geological Society has been an honor.  As most of you know, I’m a little rough around the edges and don’t mind poking a little fun at myself (or others for that matter), but I am passionate about our science and our Society and will continue to serve both to the best of my ability.  I encourage each of you to do the same, especially the YPs out there. 

The East Texas Geological Society is your Society!  I have been the President for nearly two years and realized that I have not given you an update on what is going on with the Society, so let me fill you in.  Most of you are aware of the three major activities we hold each year – the golf tournament, the Tech and Prospect Expo, and the skeet shoot – but what you may not know is that the profits from the first two go toward our scholarship fund.  More on that later.  In spite of a tough year for our industry, we still made a little money from the golf tournament – thanks Nick Pollard, for your years of organizing that event.  This year, the Tech and Prospect Expo was pretty well attended – given the economic climate of the industry – and we’re still waiting on all the invoices to see if we are in the black or red, but either way, it will be close.